Flagg vs. Davis and 30 other conference player of the
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Myron Medcalf, ESPN
- Personnel WriterOct 16, 2024, 08:00 AM ET Close Covers college basketball
- Signed up with ESPN.com in 2011
- Graduate of Minnesota State University, Mankato
It’s never ever prematurely to project the conference player of the year races in guys’s college basketball. Every league features a collection of strong prospects. What do most of them lack? Consistency.Between all the modifications wrought by graduation and the chaos created by the transfer portal this offseason, not to mention significant training modifications and conference adjustment, only 2 ruling conference players of the year have actually returned to the exact same teams and leagues they played for a season ago: North Carolina’s RJ Davis (ACC), and Grand Canyon’s Tyon Grant-Foster (WAC ). That’s what makes this 2024-25 season so fascinating. The large bulk of the now-31 Division I guys’s conferences will feature fresh faces when the annual honors are revealed at the end of the season.(Rest in peace– in the meantime– to the Pac-12, which will reassemble and boast a decent stable of teams consisting of powerhouse Gonzaga. Eventually.)From the America East Conference all the method to the Western Athletic Conference, however, the fight for top player will continue all season.Let’s have a look at the top player of the year candidates for every single conference, and their leading competition.Jump to a conference: #A 10 “> A-10|#AAC “> AAC|#ACC” > ACC |
#AmericaEast”> America East|#ASUN”> ASUN|#Big 12″> Big 12|#BigEast”> Big East|#BigSky”> Big Sky|#BigSouth”> Huge South|#BigTen”> Big 10|#BigWest”> Big West|#CUSA”> C-USA|#CAA”> CAA|#Horizon”> Horizon League|#Ive”> Ivy League|#MAAC”> MAAC|#MAC”> MAC|#MEAC”> MEAC|#MountainWest”> Mountain West|#MVC”> MVC|#NEC”> NEC|#OVC”> OVC|#Patriot”> Patriot League|#SEC”> SEC|#Socon”> Southern|#Southland”> Southland|#Summit”> Top League|#SunBelt”> Sun Belt|#SWAC”> SWAC|#WAC”> WAC|#WCC”> WCC
America East Conference Editor’s
Picks 2 Related Earl Timberlake, Bryant Bulldogs Timberlake, who was named to the All-America East first string last season, is looking to take an advance to win the leading honors this season. Against a top-10 Florida Atlantic team last season, the 6-foot-6 guard ended up with 13 points, 12 rebounds, 5 helps and 3 blocks. If he can notch more of those sort of performances this season, he might assist Bryant reach the NCAA competition for the 2nd time in 3 years.Top competition: Shamir Bogues, Vermont Catamounts(11.3 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 1.9 SPG in 2023-24) American Athletic Conference Yaxel Lendeborg, UAB Blazers The 6-9 forward
led his group to the AAC competition
title and the 2nd round of the NCAA tournament last season, balancing 12.5 points and 11.5 rebounds in the postseason. Next up for Lendeborg: leading the Blazers to win their first regular-season conference title since 2016. Top competitors: PJ Haggerty, Memphis Tigers(21.2 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 3.8 APG at Tulsa in 2023-24) Lance King/Getty Images Atlantic Coast Conference Cooper Flagg, Duke Blue Devils If there were any doubts about Flagg’s capability to live
as much as the buzz surrounding his status as the No. 1 hire in the 2024 class, and the predicted No. 1 choice in the 2025 NBA draft, the 6-9 phenom’s unbelievable performance in a skirmish against the U.S. males’s team before the Paris Olympics neutralized them. It appears Flagg is the genuine offer, and predestined for a sensational debut– and season.Top competitors: RJ Davis, North Carolina Tar Heels (21.2 PPG, 40 %from 3 in 2023-24)
ASUN Conference
Jacari Lane, North Alabama Lions
Throughout conference play last season, the 6-foot guard connected on 39% of his 3-point attempts and 82% of his free throws. On the entire season, he averaged 14.7 points. That efficiency helped him protect an area on the All-Atlantic Sun first string. He’s the only returnee from that group of ASUN standouts.Top competition: Devontae Blanton, Eastern Kentucky Colonels (14.7 PPG, 1.1 SPG in 2023-24) play 1:59 Robbie Avila’s best plays of last season Have a look at some of Robbie Avila
‘s finest plays of last season ahead of his first season at Saint Louis. Atlantic 10 Conference Robbie Avila, Saint Louis Billikens The
viral star of 2023-24 who earned the label”
Cream Abdul-Jabbar “as he led Indiana State to the NIT championship game, followed his head coach Josh Schertz to the Billikens in the offseason. The 6-10 center averaged 17.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, 4.1 helps and 39%from the 3-point line last season, enough to put him on the All-MVC first team, the MVC championship tournament group and the NIT all-tournament team. He’s looking to go up in his very first year in the A10.Top competitors: Max Shulga, VCU Rams(14.0 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 41.5% from 3 in 2023-24)
Big East Conference Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton Bluejays Last season, the 7-footer won his third consecutive Big East protective player of the year award after averaging 17.3 points, 7.6 rebounds and 3.1 blocked shots. Winning the Big East regular-season title over two-time defending champion UConn would be a high task any Big East team, but Kalkbrenner’s return for another season gives the Bluejays a genuine shot.Top competitors: Alex Karaban, UConn Huskies (13.3 PPG, 38% from 3 in 2023-24 )
Huge Sky Conference
Brandon Whitney, Montana Grizzlies
Although Whitney (10.3 PPG, 41% from 3) could not get his group past competing Montana State in the Huge Sky tournament championship game, the 6-1 guard made 62% of his shots inside the arc across the tournament. He’s going to be a force in the conference this season.Top competition
: Brian Goracke, Montana State Bobcats (13.5 PPG, 37% from 3 in 2023-24)
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Big South Conference Kezza Giffa, High Point Panthers Giffa is among four returning beginners for a Panthers group that won the Big South’s regular-season title. The 6-2 guard– who scored 32 points in the conference competition national championship loss– and teammate Kimani Hamilton are the only players from last season’s All-Big South first string who returned this season, however Giffa gets approval for the award.Top competition: Kimani Hamilton, High Point Panthers( 14.9 PPG, 7.2 RPG in 2023-24) Huge 12 Conference Hunter Dickinson, Kansas Jayhawks Dickinson
is the anchor of a Jayhawks
group that is the preseason No. 1 team. Last season– his very first with the Jayhawks– the 7-1 star averaged 17.9 points, 10.9 rebounds, 1.4 blocks and notched junior varsity AP All-American honors.Top competition
: Tamin Lipsey, Iowa State Cyclones (12.4 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 4.9 APG, 2.7 SPG, 39% from 3)
Huge 10 Conference Braden Smith, Purdue Boilermakers With two-time Wooden Award winner Zach Edey now in the NBA, Smith (12.0 PPG, 7.5 APG, 5.8 RPG, 43% from beyond the arc last season) is now the leader of a retooled Boilermakers team that need to still contend for the title in the expanded, 18-team Huge Ten.Top competitors: Airious “Ace” Bailey, Rutgers Scarlet Knights (freshman, forecasted top-five choice in 2025 NBA draft, per ESPN) play 0:23 UC Davis ‘Ty Johnson speeds in for game-winning layup
UC Davis’ Ty Johnson speeds in for game-winning layup
Huge West Conference TY Johnson, UC Davis Aggies The 6-3 guard registered 5 games last season with 30 or more points. This season, the All-Big West second-team choice might construct on that effort as the brand-new star of the team that lost three beginners. The Aggies will require a big season from Johnson to contend in the conference race.Top competitors: Justin Hohn, UC Irvine Anteaters( 12.6 PPG, 38 %from 3 in 2023-24 ) Coastal Athletic Association Ante Brzovic, Charleston Cougars Brzovic, a
6-10 center and the only returnee from last season’s All-CAA first team, made 67 %of his shots inside the arc last season, which helped the Cougars win the league’s tournament title and outscore Alabama in the 2nd half of their 109-96 loss in the preliminary of the NCAA competition. Might he do one much better this season?Top competition: Derrin Boyd, Charleston Cougars (17.6 PPG, 44%from 3 at Lipscomb in 2023-24) Conference USA Daniel Batcho, Louisiana Tech Bulldogs The 6-11 center, who balanced 15.2 points, 9.8 rebounds and 2.4 blocks last season, was ranked as an”exceptional” offensive player, especially
in pick-and-roll circumstances and quick breaks, per Synergy Sports. He’s back to build on last season’s All-Conference U.S.A. first-team effort.Top competitors: Lamar Wilkerson, Sam Houston Bearkats( 13.8 PPG, 3.6 RPG in 2023-24) Horizon League Jalen Jackson, Purdue
Fort Wayne Mastodons Jackson, a 6-2 guard who averaged 15.7 points and connected on 41%of his shots from beyond the arc last season, might face some stiff competition for the Horizon League’s player of the year race from a number of directions, including … his colleague Rasheed Bello( 14.9 PPG in 2023-24). Top competition: Brandon Noel, Wright State Raiders(14.5 PPG, 40 %from 3 in 2023-24)play
0:17
Xaivian Lee has too much variety with this deep 3
Xaivian Lee has too much variety with this deep 3
Ivy League Xaivian Lee, Princeton Tigers A consentaneous All-Ivy League first-team selection last season, Lee (17.1 PPG, 5.7 RPG) withdrew his name from the NBA draft to go back to Princeton for another college season. Which makes the 6-3 guard among the anchors of a competitive Tigers group seeking its third NCAA tournament look considering that 2011.
Leading competition: Caden Pierce, Princeton Tigers (16.6 PPG, 9.2 RPG in 2023-24)
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Amarri Monroe, Quinnipiac Bobcats Monroe, who formerly passed the name Amarri Tice, made the MAAC’s main preseason player of the year nod after balancing 12.9 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.8 steals last season. Throughout his group’s five-game winning streak in March, he made 63% of his shots inside the arc.Top competition: Dejour Reaves, Iona Gaels (14.9 PPG, 38% from 3 at Northern Colorado in 2023-24)
Mid-American Conference Anthony Pritchard, Central Michigan Chippewas
Pritchard (12.8 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 4.7 APG) earned a spot on the all-MAC first string last year after finishing in the leading 40 nationally in assist rate, per KenPom. But his previous 3 seasons have actually likewise been impacted by injury. What can a healthy Pritchard do? We might simply find out this season.Top competitors
: Payton Triggers, Ball State Cardinals (13.3 PPG, 8.7 RPG at Ball State in 2022-23 before dipping into Indiana in 2023-24)
play 0:17 Howard’s Bryce Harris raises for big-time block Howard’s Bryce Harris secures the paint with a thunderous rejection at the rim against Delaware State. Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Bryce Harris, Howard Bison Toward the end of his team’s First Four game versus Wagner in March, Harris(16.6 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 38
%from beyond the arc)scored to cut
his team’s deficit to one point. The Bison still lost the game, but the 6-4, All-MEAC first-team guard showed the guarantee that has actually placed him now to lead Howard back to the NCAA tournament.Top competition: Martaz Robinson, Delaware State Hornets (15.9 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 2.0 SPG in 2023-24) Missouri Valley Conference Duke Deen, Bradley Braves The mass exodus at Indiana State in the offseason has actually opened a course for both Deen and Bradley to collect several honors in the MVC this season. The 5-8 guard balanced 13.9 points and linked on 38 %of his
3-point attempts last season– an effort that helped him earn an area on the All-MVC very first team.Top competitors: JaCobi Wood, Murray State Racers (12.5 PPG, 4.1 APG, 37 %from 3 in 2023-24 ) Mountain West Conference Tyson Degenhart, Boise State Broncos Degenhart is back after an All-Mountain
West first-team
effort that ended with a journey to the NCAA tournament. If the 6-8 forward, who averaged 16.7 points and 6.2 rebounds, can discover his 3-point stroke again, Boise State might be a postseason spoiler.Top competitors: Donovan Damage, New Mexico Lobos(14.1 PPG, 5.4 APG, 38%from 3 in 2023-24) play 0:19 Jordan Jones impresses with great basket Jordan Jones impresses with good basket
Northeast Conference
Jordan Jones, Central Connecticut Blue Devils
After a 4-7 start last season, Central Connecticut roared back to a 15-3 finish in its next 18 games, protecting a share of the NEC regular-season crown. Jones, a 6-foot guard, balanced 13.1 points in one of the very best midseason turnarounds in 2023-24.
Leading competition: R.J. Greene, Wagner Seahawks (8.2 PPG, 8.0 RPG in 2023-24)
Ohio Valley Conference KK Robinson, Little Rock Trojans
The 6-foot guard created one of last season’s biggest shifts, shaking off a shooting depression to help his group win a share of the OVC regular-season title. Robinson went 8-for-44 from beyond the arc in nonconference play– then made 40% of the same shots (34-for-86) in league action, eventually completing the season balancing 15.8 points, 5.6 rebounds and 4.3 assists.Top competitors:
Ray’Sean Taylor, SIU Edwardsville Cougars (13.6 PPG, 36.7 %from 3 in 2023-24) Patriot League Matt Rogers, American University Eagles
Rogers, a 6-9 forward, boasted among
the most impressive stat lines amongst big guys last season, when he made All-Patriot League first-team honors. He averaged 16.3 points and 6.2 rebounds, but he also made 37 %of his 3-point efforts and 57% of his shots inside the arc.Top competitors: Tyler Whitney-Sidney, Lehigh Mountain Hawks(15.2 PPG, 1.0 SPG in 2023-24) Southeastern Conference Mark Sears, Alabama Crimson Tide Along with RJ Davis and Hunter Dickinson, Sears( 44
%from 3)is among America’s top returning players. In the Tide
‘s Last Four loss to UConn in April, he ended up with 24 points (3-for-6 on 3-pointers). He as soon as again leads an Alabama group that completed the 2023-24 season second in adjusted offending efficiency per KenPom and could delight in comparable success this season.Top competitors Wade Taylor IV, Texas A&M Aggies(19.1 PPG, 4.0 APG, 3.5 RPG in 2023-24) Southern Conference Corey Tripp, Wofford Terriers The 6-3 guard averaged 15.6 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.4 helps, a stellar getaway for a Terriers group that ended up with a middle-of-the-pack record (10-8) in SoCon play. This season, nevertheless, they return more skill than any other team in the conference, positioning them– and Tripp– to dominate in 2024-25. Leading competitors: Honor Huff, Chattanooga Mocs (17.4 PPG, 38%from 3 in 2023-24) play 0:23 McNeese’s Christian Shumate elevates for a massive putback dunk McNeese forward Christian Shumate captures a miss out on in the air
and rocks the
rim with a putback dunk. Southland Conference Christian Shumate, McNeese Cowboys The 6-6 forward helped Will Wade reach 30 wins in his first season as head coach of the Cowboys– a stretch that
consisted of a 25-1 rally over the last 26 games before the NCAA tournament.
This season, Shumate(12.1 PPG, 9.5 RPG, 1.4 BPG )will try to lead McNeese to back-to-back NCAA competition appearances for the first time.Top competition: Sincere Parker, McNeese Cowboys(15.9 PPG, 43% from 3 at Saint Louis in 2023-24)
Summit League Issac McBride, Oral Roberts Golden Eagles ORU finished 12-19 in Russell Springmann’s first season after taking control of for Paul Mills, who delegated coach Wichita State. But McBride(19.8 PPG, 3.1 APG, 39%from the arc), a 6-1 guard, was an intense area, and ought to
assist the Golden Eagles considerably improve this season.Top competition: Jamar Brown, Kansas City Roos(15.0 PPG, 6.1 RPG in 2023-24 ) Sun Belt Conference Kobe Julien, Arkansas State Red Wolves Julien led Louisiana last season with 15 points in a loss to Arkansas State in the Sun Belt tournament. Now, he’s taking
his abilities(17.3 PPG,
4.8 RPG)to those Red Wolves
, who completed 61st in adjusted offending effectiveness last season, per KenPom.Top competitors: Taryn Todd, Arkansas State Red Wolves (12.8 PPG, 3.4 RPG in 2023-24) play 0:18 Kintavious Dozier rocks the rim with
slam dunk Kintavious Dozier rocks the rim with slam dunk Southwestern Athletic Conference Kintavious Dozier, Grambling Tigers In
a 78-50 loss to top-seeded Purdue in the preliminary
of the NCAA tournament, Dozier made
national honor and respect with his 16-point effort. Now, Dozier( 13.0 PPG)is back after helping the Tigers go dancing for the very first time as a Department I team in 2023-24. Leading competitors: TJ Madlock, Alabama State Hornets (15.8 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 2.3 APG in 2023-24) play 0:24 Tyon Grant-Foster throws down effective jam vs. UT Arlington Mavericks Tyon Grant-Foster throws down effective jam vs. UT Arlington Mavericks Western Athletic Conference Tyon Grant-Foster, Grand Canyon Lopes